Punchestown 2012

Zenyatta said:
I'm surprised they are keeping Big Zeb going.
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Why? Unless Realt Dubh shows up in the Grade 1 at Crimbo, whats going to beat him? It will be a four runner race as usual. Will start off at Navan again but won't go to Cheltenham. If these horses have grade 1s in them, why stop. He might not be able to compete anymore at the very highest level, but is more than capable of winning decent races. The same argument was made by Paul Nicholls when he brought Kauto back.
 
I can understand the decision because he is probably still capable of winning the G3/G2 2m chases in Ireland, and maybe a weak G1 as you say. However, to my eye, he is on a pretty sharp downward curve and has no chance of taking home a 'big prize'. He won two poor races to start the season and has then been well beaten in 3 attempts at the top level. He could well do the same thing next season (and one of those races is a G1) but he would appear vulnerable to a decent younger rival. For example, I reckon Nicholls will be pot hunting 2m chases on heavy ground in Ireland with Kauto Stone. Big Zeb might be able to beat him but that is the type of horse I mean.

I am not saying it is the wrong decision, far from it because it is understandable if he's going to win races and valuable ones at that, just that I thought they would retire him given that he is quite clearly on the downgrade.

I don't think the comparison with Kauto Star is justified because I find it hard to believe that Big Zeb will win two 2m races of the calibre of the Betfair Chase and King George next season.

I don't have a problem with the decision at all, I just assumed (wrongly) that he would be retired after Punchestown.
 
I agree. Kauto Star was such a tip top chaser at his best that he could afford to deteriorate by a stone and still win Grade 1's.
 
BigRob said:
No I did'nt bother with singles if could of done the double I would of more for the interest for the week.

I tried both stan james site and betpack (which is more or less stan james)
and neither would let me double on line.

I must try it tomorrow on the daily markets out of curiosity to see will it allow it.

Well done it was a good spot especially the distances that was way wrong.
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I hope you tried it out with Navan yesterday, both over.

As for Punchestown, Stan James have now obviously re-worked the figures to realise it will be cheaper for them to void these bets rather than pay out as they orinially said & as they should've done, not to mention the sleepers that'll they will get to keep too, good result for them.
 
Cantoris said:
Why? Unless Realt Dubh shows up in the Grade 1 at Crimbo, whats going to beat him? It will be a four runner race as usual. Will start off at Navan again but won't go to Cheltenham. If these horses have grade 1s in them, why stop. He might not be able to compete anymore at the very highest level, but is more than capable of winning decent races. The same argument was made by Paul Nicholls when he brought Kauto back.
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€14000 for finishing a poor third last week-there is still decent prize money to be won by the horse.I would be disappointed if he was good enough to win at Leopardstown at Christmas but there are decent races he can win.
 
Big Zeb may be kept in training, however if he is showing nothing at home he might not make the racecourse again.
 
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